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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Bassem Zakarneh, a former student of mine and head of the Palestinian workers' union, is a family man as I am sure Ahmad Majdalani, the Minister of Labor is also a family man. Zakarneh would practice his English language vigorously, and during breaks the students would ask him questions about their rights as laborers under the collapsing Palestinian Authority. They asked about their rights as employees, not only in the private sector, but also within the ministries of Abu Mazen, a main source for employment.

Once Zakarneh joked how his daughter is more fluent in English and helps him study, and she attended one of my classes sitting next to her father, brightly smiling and answering proudly while my adult students tried to get the thick of English off their tongues.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Last year at the prestigious (and imperialist) Herzliya
conference in Israel, Ben Bernanke, the chief of the federal reserve, concluded
that the talks and peace process itself resulted in 3% growth of the economy.

We should note here that he said the process, not the
actual settlement, but the perpetual talks have lead to this growth. The
economic occupation that is penetrating the occupied Palestinian territories
like a deadly plague is difficult to imagine, and what even more difficult is
to come up with solutions to counter this economic bubble that will defiantly
burst.

Friday, November 18, 2011

The United Colors of Benetton announced a campaign just a few days ago to reverse hate by "contrasting the culture of hatred and promoting closeness" through the action of "the kiss, the most universal symbol of love, between world political and religious leaders."

The UCB's media campaign has already been regarded as controversial, perhaps for the action of two men kissing in homosexual fashion, or perhaps the controversy is due in part to the figureheads featured and the assumed followings or meanings these individuals possess.

The less obvious and more offensive nature of the campaign series is that The UCB assumes that hatred is the governing feature between the two parties presented. By showcasing the pope with an imam, it is assumed some institutionalized, religious hatred exists between these two religious institutions. Or by showcasing Mahmood Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu The UCB is assuming that hate is the ultimate feature that is causing tensions between occupied Palestinians and militant Israelis. Thus The UCB's corporate scheme sets out to "undo" the hate.

In the film "Life in a Day" the celebration and tragedy of mankind's actions are all documented in a YouTube production highlighting July 24, 2010. Released in late January of this year, the movie covers the facts of life that we tend to take for granted, from our first morning footsteps to the change we carry in our pockets. While the movie hints at certain pinnacle issues relevant to the time the movie was created, it overwhelmingly humanizes life as simply the will to survive.

"I want people to know that I'm here.

I don't want to cease to exist."

This blog isn't just about Palestine. It is how badly I too want to exist somehow, to be relevant, and in more ways than one, I find someone blotting my face out in red ink, or striking me from the narrative, or erasing whatever mark I may have left. When I say "I," I mean you, we, us, humanity. Multiple labels and identities and affiliations strike us, cancel us out, elevate us, deny us--only if we continue to let them.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

It seems that the documentary focuses on 12 different world leaders, their lives, and their sacrifices in 12 different segments. Watching the short clips about Arafat, I am reminded about how the leader is different than Mahmood Abbas. Arafat had character. Abbas looks like the world just farted in his face.

Sometimes when testifying, people feel compelled to add certain elements to their stories so that they are attention grabbers. Watch "The World Series Defense" of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to study Zionist story telling tactics.

According to YNET news "Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said that it was time to implement the Palestinian unity agreement and stressed that fulfilling the 'Palestinian dream' would not be possible until a solution is found" between Hamas and Fatah.

If one recalls during the sad divorce of Hamas from West Bank politics, the elected Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya was replaced by Salam Fayyad as decreed by the almighty Abu Mazen. While Mahmood Abbas continues to take a Suge Knight role in the political monopoly of Palestinian governance, new reports seems to reveal that Fayyad may have been sidelined in what may just be a controversial split between the dictator and the technocrat.

First thing anybody does when they are making a commitment to Palestine is they sign up to be added to the Ramallah Ramallah Yahoo group and they frequently check out EnglishPal to get situated in Ramallah. They are great resources for those who really have no connections here, and so their English language becomes their only vessel to navigate. Of course, the first thing a person wants to do when they come from abroad is they want to know where they are living in a region already unsafe to live in.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I had a friend once. She was a terrible friend mind you but that is another story of gossip and Egyptian fashioned drama. She was the type who chased after people, had a loud shrieking laugh, changed her accent to Lebanese when she spoke to guys. Her heart was good but she gave it away to popularity too many times. Once we were standing outside of work, both of us California expats struggling to somehow make it. The winters here remind me of sitting in my father's convenience store cooler. It is colder indoors than it is outdoors, and we stood waiting for a taxi as it lightly drizzled. We were miserable

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

This song is dedicated to the wife of Yasser Arafat, who abandoned the good men of her country and is now residing in plush luxury. Except I doubt the ending of the video reflects what she is feeling. Who knows...

Who are the Freedom Riders | Palestine is definitely not equal to Rosa Parks, but utilizing the symbolism of her historic presence can be beneficial and also risky to the Palestinian cause. Thus usage of her likeness and other popular figures of solidarity struggles should be used respectfully. Meanwhile Palestinians should be insisting upon the empowerment of their own leaders who qualify to stand on their own two feet without having to be likened to anyone.

Monday, November 14, 2011

In what was supposedly a brave attempt at satire, Linah Al Saafin seemed to have landed herself into some drama as locals and those in diaspora read her blogpost about the natives of Al Bireh, herself being one too. As commentary became limited, and reactions seemed to rage in Al Bireh this summer, the notion or the intention of the blogpost will always be left unknown. After all, in literary or critical analysis, it is not typically the intention of the writer that academics seek to understand, but the structure and tools employed that lead us to perceive these intentions. Ignoring the slanderous attack on people from Al Bireh, the most offensive thing about Al Saafin's writing is that it simply does not reflect the true nature of what "satire" means, manipulating a form of writing for mere self defense. This weakness makes her article, and backlash at those who found it offensive, flimsy. It would have been applauded if, when reacting, she had tried to be consistent with the notion of satire. But her defensiveness gave way to her emotions.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Foreigners are a validation point for Palestinians. While their presence and support is completely welcomed, and has helped strengthen the cause of humanity, there is something within me that shivers with discomfort. I am not a nationalist, nor one for isolation. I do not parade the Palestinian flag on my back, because to me, the Levant was home to a shared culture. Celebrating the scarring borders imperialists placed around us, and celebrating this as my identity, is self defeating to me. While I accept the label of "Palestinian," I find more in common with those foreigners who defend Palestinian rights because of their language and ideals. Yet at the same time, in an odd phenomenon that I continue to experience, I find it just as isolating from what Palestinian identity means and constitutes.